Alpha particles are described as which of the following?

Alpha particles are described as which of the following?

• A. Positively charged particles that are relatively slow moving and weakly penetrating.
• B. Negatively charged particles that move at near light speed.
• C. Massless waves that travel through vacuum.
• D. Neutral particles with strong penetrating power.

Answer: (A)

Alpha particles are helium nuclei, so they carry a positive charge. They are relatively heavy and move much slower than other radioactive emissions, losing energy quickly as they travel. This combination makes them highly ionizing in a short distance, but they have limited penetrating power and can be stopped by a sheet of paper or a few centimeters of air. The other descriptions describe beta particles (fast, negatively charged electrons), gamma rays (massless waves traveling at light speed with high penetration), or neutrons (neutral particles with different penetration). Therefore, the correct description is positively charged, relatively slow moving, and weakly penetrating.

Alpha particles are helium nuclei, so they carry a positive charge. They are relatively heavy and move much slower than other radioactive emissions, losing energy quickly as they travel. This combination makes them highly ionizing in a short distance, but they have limited penetrating power and can be stopped by a sheet of paper or a few centimeters of air. The other descriptions describe beta particles (fast, negatively charged electrons), gamma rays (massless waves traveling at light speed with high penetration), or neutrons (neutral particles with different penetration). Therefore, the correct description is positively charged, relatively slow moving, and weakly penetrating.